A new report put together by former BBC executive Richard Sambrook will be published, marking the introduction of strict new guidelines for staff. Ahead of the publication of the report, former BBC executive and director of communications for No 10 Sir Robbie Gibb said this was just the beginning of a long process for the broadcaster. Sir Robbie also claimed the BBC had become too left-wing politically and must change in order to justify its publicly-funded status.
Commenting on the new social media guidelines, he said: “New BBC staff social media guidelines published today may be the start of reform but I doubt it will end there and nor should it.
“The BBC can only justify itself as a publicly-funded broadcaster if it provides something its rivals do not – impartial news and entertainment.”
Writing in The Times, Sir Robbie also claimed the director-general has a huge task on his hands to restore faith in the broadcaster.
Within the guidelines set to be revealed today, the BBC is expected to introduce strict penalties for breaking the rules set out.
These penalties will be specifically for those working in news or current affairs in order to clamp down on any alleged bias on social media platforms.
Previously, Mr Davie had threatened to remove staff from Twitter if they fail to adhere to the new guidelines set out by the BBC.
During a Parliament select committee session, he said: “We will have, within those guidelines, the enforcement policies will be very clear.
“We will be able to take disciplinary action. We will be able to take people off Twitter.
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“We already publish the salaries of top earners and the expenses claims of senior executives, and there will now be information provided to the public as to who has done what.”
Mr Davie is also planning to introduce a public register of outside earning for staff members at the BBC.
Due to this, outside earnings must be declared by any journalist or presenter.
A strict clearing process will also be implemented for staff before they’re hired by the BBC.
BBC presenters and journalists have been accused of political bias in the past.
On June 3, the corporation received multiple complaints over a segment from BBC Newsnight.
During the segment, presenter, Emily Maitlis commented on Boris Johnson’s claim that he was proud of the Government’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic.
Commenting on his claim, she said: “When it comes to excess deaths, Britain’s currently a world leader. Is that really something to be proud of?”
At the time, the BBC dismissed the claims of bias.
On May 26, however, Mailtis delivered a monologue where she commented on Dominic Cummings trip to Durham during the lockdown.
The BBC later ruled her monologue broke impartiality rules and had received a large number of complaints.
